EASTENDERS co-stars Max Bowden and Shona McGarty have split – six months after they started dating.
The actor, who plays Ben Mitchell in the BBC1 soap, and stunning Shona decided it wasn’t going to work after Max became a dad for the first time with his ex girlfriend.
A source said: “There has been a lot going on in Max’s life and things were just getting too complicated with Shona being involved.
“Max will always have a lot of love and respect for Shona but it’s just not the right time.
“Everyone is trying to make things as least awkward as possible on set – luckily they don’t have many scenes together.”
A friend close to the couple added: “Max and Shona have never spoken on it publicly but as their close circle would know, they were never in an official relationship and remain close friends who decided not to pursue anything romantic a number of months ago.“
Last month Max’s ex Roisin Buckle gave birth to a baby boy following their split in April.
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He posted at the time: “Reginald Buckle welcome to the world son. Born on the 19th September 2022. Greatest feeling in the world and a love like I’ve never felt. Will never get over the feeling of my son looking me in the eye for the first time.
“Well done to Roisin on being such a strong first time Mum and taking to motherhood like a champ. @one_mum_and_a_baby
“Heart is very full of love and gratitude, and can’t wait to love this little man for eternity! 
.”
His co-stars rushed to congratulate him, but Shona’s comment was noticeably absent.
Last week Shona, who plays Bianca’s step-daughter Whitney Dean, sparked speculation it was over as she celebrated her birthday with her co-stars and Max was nowhere to be seen.
The pair both kept a low profile and didn’t attend recent awards shows, while the rest of the cast have been partying.
Max attend the Pride Of Britain Awards alone on Monday evening.
Max and Shona went Instagram official in August of this year after The Sun revealed their secret romance and told how they had become “inseparable”
It came as a friend of Max’s ex Roisin revealed she felt “humiliated and disrespected” when she learned of his closeness to his fellow cast member.
Roisin spoke out – claiming Max had missed key scans for the baby and hadn’t spoken to her in nearly two months.
She told how she was devastated to discover he had moved on with Shona just weeks after they took a break.
Shona split from electrician fiancé Ryan Harris in January, claiming the separation was “very amicable”.
